What Is Procedural Memory? Overview And Things You Need To Know

Your procedural memory is what helps you do things automatically, without thinking about them too much. For example, this morning you made your usual breakfast of banana pancakes.

Then you rode your bike to the store and came back typing on your laptop keys to answer emails. And at lunchtime, while playing classical guitar, nostalgia hit and I needed a few minutes to break to play “Classical Gas.”

Harder to directly train than explicit forms of memory, procedural memory is a component of long-term memory that deals with the performance of actions and skills.

With the right conditioning and lifestyle decisions, however, it is possible to see an improvement in your ability.

What is procedural memory?

Procedural memory is the type of long-term memory that helps you to perform tasks or skills automatically, without having to think about them too much.

It’s often referred to as your “muscle memory” because it includes all of the things that you have to do in order to complete a physical task, like riding a bike or tying your shoes.

It can also include simple mental tasks that you do regularly, like adding numbers in your head or remembering how to get to the grocery store.

Essentially, procedural memory is anything that you can do without really having to think about it.

For most people, procedural memory is largely implicit, which means that we don’t really have to consciously think about what we’re doing in order to do it.

However, some parts of procedural memory can be explicit, which means that we’re aware of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.

What are different types of procedural memory?

Procedural memory can be further categorized into different types based on the specific skills or tasks they represent. Here’s a breakdown of some common types:

Motor skills

This is the most well-known type of procedural memory. It encompasses the learned ability to perform physical movements, often referred to as “muscle memory.”  Examples include:

• Tying shoelaces
• Riding a bike
• Playing a musical instrument
• Writing by hand
• Operating machinery or tools

Cognitive skills

Procedural memory isn’t limited to physical actions. It also includes learned cognitive processes that become automatic with practice. Examples include:

• Solving math problems (once you’ve grasped the concepts)
• Following a recipe
• Applying grammar rules while writing
• Giving directions or navigating a familiar route

Habitual behaviors

Many of our daily routines and habits are ingrained in procedural memory. These are learned actions that become automatic with repetition, requiring minimal conscious thought.  Examples include:

• Brushing your teeth
• Getting dressed
• Checking your phone upon waking up
• Taking a specific route to work

Skill sequencing

Procedural memory allows us to break down complex tasks into smaller, sequential steps. With practice, these steps become automatic, allowing us to perform the entire task smoothly. Examples include:

• Following a dance routine
• Giving a presentation (moving from introduction to main points to conclusion)
• Completing a complex sports maneuver (like a golf swing)

How is procedural memory different from other types of memory?

Procedural memory is just one type of long-term memory. It’s different from other types of long-term memory, like declarative memory and semantic memory, in a few key ways.

Declarative vs Procedural Memory

Aspect	Declarative Memory	Procedural Memory
Type of Knowledge	Involves factual information and events	Involves skills, habits, and procedures
Conscious Awareness	Typically consciously recalled and verbalized	Often unconscious and difficult to verbalize
Learning Process	Relies on encoding and storing information	Emphasizes repetition and practice
Examples	Remembering historical dates or names	Riding a bicycle or playing a musical instrument
Brain Regions	Primarily associated with the hippocampus	Primarily associated with the basal ganglia

How does procedural memory apply to everyday activities?

Procedural memory plays a crucial role in our everyday lives, allowing us to perform a vast array of tasks smoothly and efficiently.

Here’s a closer look at how it applies to various activities:

• Playing piano: Learning the correct finger positions, chord progressions, and scales requires the formation of procedural memories.
• Skiing: Balance, turning, and stopping on skis are all skills that are learned through procedural memory.
• Ice skating: The ability to glide across the ice and maintain balance is a result of procedural memory.
• Playing baseball: Swinging a bat, throwing a ball, and catching a ball are all skills that are learned through procedural memory.
• Swimming: The technique of swimming, such as the crawl (freestyle) stroke, is a procedural memory.
• Driving a car: Operating a vehicle, including shifting gears, using the pedals, and steering, are all skills that are learned through procedural memory.
• Riding a bike: Balance, steering, and pedaling are all skills that are learned through procedural memory.
• Climbing stairs: The ability to climb stairs efficiently is a result of procedural memory.

What affects procedural memory?

There are a few different things that can affect our procedural memory.

For example, age and sleep deprivation can both have an impact on our ability to learn new skills or remember how to do things.

Age

As we get older, our procedural memory generally gets worse.

This is one of the reasons why it’s often harder for older adults to learn new skills or remember how to do things that they haven’t done in a while.

However, it’s important to note that not all older adults experience a decline in their procedural memory. And, even for those who do, the decline is usually gradual and mild.

Sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation can also have a negative impact on our procedural memory. This is because sleep is important for consolidating new memories and skills.

So, if we don’t get enough sleep, we may have trouble learning new things or remembering how to do things that we’ve already learned.

Drug abuse

Drug abuse can also impact our procedural memory. This is because drugs like alcohol and marijuana can interfere with the brain’s ability to store new memories.

So, if you abuse drugs, you may have trouble learning new skills or remembering how to do things that you’ve already learned.

Procedural memory is an important part of our long-term memory. It allows us to do things without thinking about them, and it’s usually created through repetition and practice.

How can we improve our procedural memory?

When we want to improve our procedural memory, one of the best things we can do is practice.

This is because practicing helps us to consolidate new memories, and it becomes more likely that we will be able to recall the skills later when we need them.

When we practice, we are effectively rewiring our brains and building new neural pathways that will help us to remember the task at hand.

So next time you’re struggling to remember how to do something, try practicing it a few times. You may be surprised at how well it works.

Practice

One of the best ways to improve our procedural memory is to practice the skills that we want to remember. This is because practice helps to consolidate new memories and makes it more likely that we’ll be able to recall them later.

Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for many reasons. It helps to consolidate new memories, improves mood and reduces stress.

It also boosts immunity and can help to prevent diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Sleep is also crucial for physical safety; drowsy driving is a leading cause of car accidents.

So, if you’re looking to improve your memory or just want to be healthy and safe, make sure you get plenty of rest.

Stay mentally active

Research has shown that there are many benefits to maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. This is especially true as we age when it becomes even more important to keep our brains sharp.

One way to do this is by staying mentally active. This can involve anything from reading and doing puzzles to attending educational classes or learning a new skill.

By keeping our minds challenged, we can help improve our procedural memory and delay the onset of age-related cognitive decline.

So, whether you’re trying to remember how to make your favorite recipe or just want to stay sharp as you get older, staying mentally active is a good way to give your brain a workout.

The takeaway

Procedural memory is an important part of our long-term memory.

It allows us to do things without thinking about them and is usually created through repetition and practice.

There are several things that we can do to improve our procedural memory, including practicing the skills that we want to remember, getting a good night’s sleep, and staying mentally active.

So, next time you’re struggling to remember how to do something, try one of these techniques and see if it helps. Your brain will thank you for it.